1 For as touching the ministry :unto the saints it is superfluous for me :to write you: 2 for I know your :readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to the Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year; and your :zeal hath stirred up their more part. 3 But I have sent the brethren, that our :glorying :on your behalf be not made void in this :respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared: 4 lest somehow, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) be put to shame in this :confidence. 5 I thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised †:bounty, that the same might thus be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6 But this I say, Who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and who soweth †bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Let each do according as he hath purposed in his :heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for :God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And :God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:
9 as it is written,
He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His :righteousness abideth unto the age.
10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your :seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your :righteousness: 11 ye being enriched in everything unto all †liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to :God.—12 Because the ministration of this :service is not only fully †supplying the wants of the saints, but is abounding also through many thanksgivings to :God—13 through the proving of you by this :ministration, they glorifying :God for the obedience of your :confession unto the gospel of the Christ, and for the †liberality of the contribution unto them and unto all; 14 while they themselves also, with supplication for you, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of :God upon you. 15 Thanks to :God for his unspeakable :gift.
